Archive for the ‘Guest Blogs’ Category

I haven’t posted in quite sometime. I am known to do more often than not (and yet the world continues to spin). Thankfully my good pal by way of Mergl Drive in Port Dover, Ontario THE STIG is ready and willing to pick up the slack (or pick up the slacker that I am) and deliver some thoughts on the recent ending of the NBA finals. Enjoy!!

NBA FINALS by THE STIG

NBA Action is Fantastic! I know, I know-that was the NBA’s slogan from the 80s but it’s changed so much over the years that it’s hard to keep up with.

Another thing that is hard to do is to watch basketball when you’re wife is a Lebron James fan and you’re not. That was the case in my house with the NBA Finals this year. Watching Lebron James dribble the ball for 18 seconds and then start the offence was gruelling enough but to hear a cheer every time Cleveland did something good was worse.

And yet, during the game last night, we had an interesting conversation. My son crawled into bed with us and asked who was the best player. My wife answered with Steph Curry as he is the current MVP and I countered with LBJ. What just happened? How could this be? I hate King James and here I was defending him! Was I taking crazy pills again?

We both made valid arguments and then we laughed. I feel asleep two minutes into the 4th quarter and was awoken to the TV going off.

(Stop the presses 2 post in a matter of minutes….could I be mastering this thing they call technology?)

Still Going Strong

As the 5 people reading this know, I once tried out to be the Raptors mascot. Despite the painful rejection of not getting the gig, they have been my favourite team in the NBA for the last 20 years. Yes, they’ve been in the league for 20 years now. You know what else has been around for 20 years? This mouse pad.

I bought this mouse pad at my first Raptors game at Skydome, 20 years ago and have used it on a daily basis ever since. I’m using it right now. They were playing the Indiana Pacers that day and the Raptors got rocked. They lost by 30. I think Alvin Robinson had a solid game along with Ed Pinkney but who cares?

In 20 years, I’ve worked on a lot of computers, both at home and at different places of employment and this mouse pad has always been by my side. Is it a good luck charm you ask?

No, it’s just a great mouse pad. Doesn’t matter if its an optical mouse or an old school one with the ball inside. This one stays put and doesn’t slide along the desk when you move your hand. The mouse glides over it effortlessly.

I hope in 20 years, if we’re still using a mouse with our computers, I’ll still be using this mouse pad.

(Hello Friends….it’s been quite sometime. Remember me? Well since I’ve been in hibernation a pal of mine (STIG) has donated some of his musings for your perusal. Enjoy!)

Separated At Birth?

I recently purchased the NBA League Pass for my Apple TV and other mobile devices. To say it’s amazing is truly an understatement. The other night, I had 4 games playing simultaneously on my laptop while I watched the Raptors on my TV. It deserves a post of its own.

The backstory is that I bought it in order to watch Knicks and to follow Canadians Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennet for the Timberwolves. Instead, I’m going to use it to follow this guy, Nikola Pekovic. He is a beast!

In the 25 years I’ve been watching NBA basketball, I’ve never seen a player like him. He’s massive! He doesn’t have a basketball player’s body at all and yet, here he his, the starting centre. And then I got to thinking, this guy reminds me of someone. And then it hit me and I burst out laughing.

If you have been privy to read any of my material over the years you probably have told yourself “if that hack can do it, so can I”. Believe me friends you are right. I obviously don’t have any special talents (other than the copy and paste function…i’m pretty good at that) when it comes to this blogdom thing. In that a reluctant reader (because who would read my stuff willingly, right?) and childhood friend/baller has decided to share a classic story from yesteryear.

Without any further ado here is Astig Melemetdijan’s account with his quest of becoming the Raptor.

A sad day in the world of sports today. The Raptor’s mascot has torn his Achilles tendon, the same injury suffered by Kobe Bryant. It’s a shame as The Raptor, his official name, is one of the best mascots in the NBA and is always entertaining the fans during games and other events.

But as heartbreaking as is, I might finally get that call back! Let me explain.

In 1995 while at Sheridan College, I tried out to be The Raptor. There was a public search and an audition tape was needed. No problem! With what I was learning at school, I made my entry quite funny and very exciting. The production value was amazing!

It was so good in fact, that I received a phone call from The Raptors about becoming the mascot. The lady on the line was very impressed and wanted to know if I had any gymnastic ability? I had zero gymnastic ability. But, I remembered some advice I was given about my entry; lie until you can’t lie anymore. So, with great confidence, I answered, “Of course I do!”

She was delighted. “Do you have any of that skill on tape anywhere?” was her follow up question.

“Uh…no.” I replied.

That was it. With my head down in shame, the jig was up. She said they would “keep me in mind” and I pathetically asked how to become a ball boy at the games. She didn’t know but really, she didn’t care.

I was heartbroken. I was miserable for days.

Until the day a letter arrived in the mail from the Toronto Raptors! I couldn’t believe it! What could it be? Well, it turns out it was my rejection letter.

I never did get the video back, but I proudly display my rejection letter in my home!

Official Letter from the Raptors Want to see Stig’s official rejection letter from the Toronto Raptors? (Click the link to the left) This letter is proudly displayed by Stig on his wall.

Solid stuff Stig…..thanks for your contributions. Don’t be afraid to launch your mascot comeback. I can hear the rally clap starting in the distance.